\section{Wilderness Encounters}

\newpage

\subsection{Enraged but not Engaged}
\encounterlabel{wilderness-rhino}{Encounter, Level 1, 500xp}

Rhinocerous are one of many dangerous residents of these arid foothills. These powerful, armored, and heavily armed animals find ample opportunities to graze in the dense growth near the river. The copious thorns, brambles, and briers that deter most desert herbivores are no match for the rhino's thick skin. Similarly, few of the predators that hide in the brush consider a rhino a painless meal.

Rhinos are moody and standoffish at the best of times, and unfortunately for the PCs, this is not the best of times. This is the mating season, and this young bull is, to put it mildly, excited. He is prowling his territory, pumped full of testosterone, and looking for a mate or a fight. If the PCs run across them, they will become the target of his aggression.

\subsubsection{Setup}

The PCs wander near the rhino while he is feeding on the other side of a stand of brush. When he spots the PCs, he charges through the growth without warning and attacks the party. Characters that make a DC~16 perception check see him as he sees them. PCs that don't are unpleasantly surprised.

\subsubsection{Tactics}

This animal is a simplistic fighter. He will charge the nearest PC at the beginning of the battle. During the fight, he will use his Ferocious Gore and action point whenever possible, and will attack either the nearest opponent or a prone PC. If he is not bloodied, he will pursue PCs to the best of his ability if they flee. Once he is bloodied, he will allow the PCs to disengage, although he will not flee himself.

\monster{Young Bull Rhino}{Elite Brute}{
\moninit{+3}
\monhp{170}{85}
\mondefense{19}{21}{17}{16}
\monspeed{8}
\monsense{Perception +5}
\monaction{1}
\monattack{M}{Gore}{standard; at-will}{}
{+9 vs. AC; 1d10+4 damage}
\monattack{M}{Ferocious Gore}{standard, at will, recharge 6}{}
{+9 vs. AC; 1d10+9 damage, pushes 2 squares, and knocks prone}
\monability{Thundering Charge}{}
{When the rhino hits with a charge attack, he does an extra 5 damage, pushes 2 squares, and knocks prone}
}

\newpage

\subsection{What a Tangled Web}
\encounterlabel{wilderness-ettercap}{Encounter, Level 2, 725xp}

The PCs are driven off the washed-out road, and must work their way through the brush to progress. This diversion puts them on a treacherous path through an Ettercap's wooded lair. The ettercap and her pets are lurking in the scrub, waiting for prey to pass through their ambush. To prevent suspicion, they have hidden all signs of webs or feeding in the dense woods.

At your discretion, the hobgoblins may have already established a relationship with the ettercap in this encounter. This is no grand alliance--it is really nothing more than a non-aggression pack. This bargain was formed through the Ettercap's belly, as the hobgoblins have fed her a disobedient goblin to form an uneasy truce. The victim's cocooned remains may be found in the lair if the PCs search it.

\subsubsection{Setup}

Spider webs (W) cover the ground on this path, disguised by dust and debris. They are very inconspicuous, and spotting them before the attack requires a DC~22 Perception or Nature check. Once these PCs are aware of the trap, they may identify webbed squares with a DC~16 check.

\encounter{
1 Ettercap Webspinner (E)\\
3 Deathjump Spiders (S)\\
}

\includegraphics[angle=90,width=\linewidth]{../images/template.jpg}

\newpage

\subsubsection{Tactics}

The ettercap and her pets will wait in hiding until the PCs ``discover'' the webbed terrain blocking their path. When they begin to get caught in the webs, the monsters act in unison. The ettercap will open up with her Webbed Terrain, trapping the PCs in the rear. The spider will leap into the webs and begin to attack the PCs. The PCs are not surprised at the beginning of the combat--the webs are enough indication of threat. 

\monster{Deathjump Spider}{Skirmisher}{
\moninit{+8}
\monhp{55}{27}
\mondefense{20}{17}{18}{16}
\monresist{5 Poison}
\monspeed{6; Climb 6; {\em Prodigious Leap}}
\monsense{Perception +9; Tremorsense 5}
\monskill{Athletics +10 (+20 jumping); Stealth +11}
\monattack{M}{Bite}{standard; at-will}{Poison}
{+6 vs. AC; 2d6+3 damage and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)}
\monability{Death from Above}{standard; at-will}
{Shift 6 squares and make a bite attack; deal 1d6 extra damage and knock target prone}
\monability{Prodigious Leap}{move; encounter}
{Shift 10 squares}
\monability{Webwalker}{}
{Ignores movement effects of spider webs}
}

\monster{Ettercap Webspinner}{Controller}{
\moninit{+4}
\monhp{132}{64}
\mondefense{18}{17}{16}{16}
\monresist{10 Poison}
\monspeed{5; Climb 5; {\em Webwalker}}
\monsense{Perception +9}
\monskill{Stealth +9}
\monattack{M}{Longspear}{standard; at-will}{Weapon}
{Reach 2; +10 vs. AC; 1d10+3 damage}
\monattack{M}{Spider Bite}{standard; at-will}{Poison}
{Requires combat advantage; +10 vs. AC; 1d6+3 damage, and secondary attack on the same target: +8 vs. Fortitude; ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)}
\monattack{R}{Web Net}{minor 1/round}{}
{Range 5; +9 vs. Reflex; target is immobilized (save ends)}
\monattack{R}{Webbed Terrain}{standard; recharge 6}{Blast}
{Area burst 2 within 10; +9 vs. Reflex; target is immobilized (save ends) and area is filled with spider webs and is considered difficult terrain until the end of the encounter}
\monability{Webwalker}{}
{Ignores movement effects of spider webs}
\monequip{leather armor, longspear}
}
\newpage

\subsection{Scouting Party}
\encounterlabel{wilderness-scouts}{Encounter, Level 3, XXXxp}

\monster{Goblin Cutter}{Minion}{
\moninit{+3}
\monhp{1}{-}
\mondefense{16}{12}{14}{11}
\monspeed{6}
\monsense{Perception +1; Low-light vision}
\monskill{Stealth +5, Thievery +5}
\monattack{M}{Short Sword}{standard; at-will}{Weapon}
{+5 vs. AC; 4 damage (5 with CA)}
\monability{Goblin Tactics}{(immediate reaction; when missed by a melee attack)}{Shifts one square}
\monequip{leather armor, short sword}
}

\monster{Goblin Blackblade}{Lurker}{
\moninit{+7}
\monhp{25}{12}
\mondefense{16}{12}{14}{11}
\monspeed{6}
\monsense{Perception +1; Low-light vision}
\monskill{Stealth +10, Thievery +10}
\monattack{M}{Short Sword}{standard; at-will}{Weapon}
{+5 vs. AC; 1d6+2 damage (+1d6 damage with combat advantage)}
\monability{Goblin Tactics}{(immediate reaction; when missed by a melee attack)}{Shifts one square}
\monability{Sneaky}{}
{When shifting, the goblin can change places with an ally its level or lower}
\monequip{leather armor, short sword}
}

\newpage

\includegraphics[angle=90,width=\linewidth]{../images/template.jpg}

\monster{Hobgoblin Warcaster}{Controller}{
\moninit{+5}
\monhp{46}{23}
\mondefense{17}{13}{15}{14}
\monspeed{6}
\monsense{Perception +4; Low-light vision}
\monskill{Arcana +10; Athletics +4; History +12}
\monattack{M}{Quarterstaff}{standard; at-will}{Weapon}
{+8 vs. AC; 1d8+1 damage}
\monattack{M}{Shock Staff}{standard; recharge 4-6}{Lightning; Weapon}
{Requires quarterstaff; +8 vs. AC; 2d10+4 lightning damage, and target is dazed until the beginning of the hobgoblin's next turn}
\monattack{R}{Force Lure}{standard; recharge 5-6}{Force}
{Range 5; +7 vs. Fortitude; 2d6+4 damage, and slide the target 3 squares}
\monattack{B}{Force Pulse}{standard; recharge 6}{Force}
{Close blast 5; +7 vs. Reflex; 2d8+4 damage, and the target is pushed one square and knocked prone}
\monability{Hobgoblin Resilience}{immediate reaction, when the hobgoblin suffers an effect that a save can end, encounter}
{Hobgoblin makes a save against the effect}
\monequip{robes, quarterstaff}
}